Vinyl pressings
by Tears For Fears · 1985
Songs From The Big Chair was first pressed on vinyl in 1985. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
68 pressings came out in 1985, the album's first year, in 34 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
MERH 58 A // 2 ▽ 420 E 1 2 2 NICKZ PenthouseRunout side A, variant 1
MERH 58 B // 1 ▽ 420 E 1 1 13 NICKZ PenthouseRunout side B, variant 1
MERH 58 A // 3 ▽ 420 E 1 2 5 NICKZ PenthouseRunout side A, variant 2
MERH 58 B // 2 ▽ 420 E 1 1 1 1 NICKZ PenthouseRunout side B, variant 2
MERH 58 A // 1 ∇ 420 E 1 1 6 NICKZ PENTHOUSERunout Side A
MERH 58 B // 1 ∇ 420 E 1 1 4 NICKZ PENTHOUSERunout Side B
MERH 58 A // 3∇ 420 E Nickz PenthouseSide A runout
MERH 58 A // 3 ∇ 420 E 1 1 1 0 NICKZ PENTHOUSEA side runout
MERH 58 B // 2 ∇ 420 E 1 1 1 6 NICKZ PENTHOUSEB side runout
MERH 58 A // 2 ∇ 420 E 1 1 2 4 Penthouse NICKZRunout side A, variant 1
MERH 58 B // 1 ∇ 420 E 1 2 6 0 Penthouse NICKZRunout side B, variant 1
MERH 58 A // 1 ∇ 420 E Penthouse NICKZRunout side A, variant 2
MERH 58 B // 1 ∇ 420 E Penthouse NICKZRunout side B, variant 2
MERH 58 A1 BilBo TAPE one MPORunout, Side 1, Etched, Variant 1
MERH 58 B1 BilBo TAPE one MPORunout, Side 2, Etched, Variant 1
MERH 58 A1 BilBo TAPE one MPORunout, Side 1, Etched, Variant 2
MERH 58 B1x BilBo TAPE one MPORunout, Side 2, Etched, Variant 2
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Unknown | Mercury MERH 58First yearLP, Advance, Album | LP, Advance, Album |
| 1985 | Argentina | Mercury 27251First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australasia | Mercury 824 300-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australasia | Mercury 824 300-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australasia | Mercury 824 300-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Australasia | Mercury 824 300-1First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1985 | Australasia | Mercury 824 300-1First yearLP, Album, Misprint | LP, Album, Misprint |
| 1985 | Brazil | Mercury 824 300-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Brazil | Mercury 824 300-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | Vertigo VOG-1-3353First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Canada | Vertigo VBK 1 3353First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Colombia | Mercury 824 300 1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Ecuador | Mercury L.P.-70055 / Mercury 824 300-1First yearLP, Album | LP, Album |
| 1985 | Europe | Mercury 824 300-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| 1985 | Europe | Mercury 824 300-1First yearLP, Album, Stereo | LP, Album, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | US | Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab MOFI 1-033 / Mercury B0016051-01LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo · Limited, Numbered |
| 2014 | Europe | Mercury 3794995 / Universal Music Group 3794995LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2014 | UK & Europe | Mercury 4700591 / Universal Music Group 0602547005915LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo |
| 2019 | Europe | Mercury 3794995 / Universal Music Group 3794995LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Europe | Mercury 0857954 / UMC 0857954LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue, Stereo · Limited, Picture disc |
| 2021 | Europe | Mercury 3794995 / Universal Music Group 3794995LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Album, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
| 2021 | Europe | Mercury 3794995 / Universal Music Group 3794995LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2022 | Europe | Mercury 3794995 / Mercury 0602537949953LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| 2025 | UK | Mercury 7874746 / Universal Music Recordings 00602478747465LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Numbered |
| 2025 | Worldwide | Mercury 7808970 / Universal Music Recordings 00602478089701LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Worldwide | Mercury 7808973 / Mercury 00602478089732LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, Stereo, All Media · Colored vinyl | LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Stereo, LP, Stereo, All Media · Colored vinyl |
| 2025 | Worldwide | Mercury 7808971 / Universal Music Recordings 00602478089718LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc | LP, Album, Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Reissue · Limited, Picture disc |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australasia | Mercury 824 300-1 / Fontana 824 300-1LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Spain | Mercury 824 300-1LP, Album, Reissue | LP, Album, Reissue |
90 vinyl pressings of Songs From The Big Chair are listed here, from 37 countries, released between 1985 and 2025.
The earliest pressings are from 1985, in UK, US, Europe, South Korea and more. One of them is Mercury MERH 58, released February 25, 1985.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use MERH 58, 824 300-1 M-1, 422-824 300-1 M-1, 824 300-1) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, MERH 58 A // 2 ▽ 420 E 1 2 2 NICKZ Penthouse and MERH 58 B // 1 ▽ 420 E 1 1 13 NICKZ Penthouse. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
